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Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa is taking a hard look at some of the best-known televangelists in America, and wants to know whether it's right that they avoid paying any taxes while their ministries contribute immensely to their personal wealth.

According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), "Mr. Grassley said his investigation was prompted by complaints from watchdog groups and others that the ministers live in multimillion-dollar homes, travel on private jets and engage in profit-making ventures from their ministries. He said the complaints raised suspicions, "but I would not make a final judgment until I get the story from the ministries."

Among the ministries that Grassley is seeking investigation from are faith-healer Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, and Kenneth Copeland.

Hinn may be the least defensible. According to an interview with Florida Magazine in 1991, Hinn replied to a question about his ostentatious display of wealth this way: "What's the big deal, for goodness sake? What am I supposed to do, drive a Honda? ...That's not in the Bible. ... I'm sick and tired about hearing about streets of gold in heaven. I don't need gold in heaven. I got to have it now!"

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Senator plans crackdown on televangelists -- Could the SEC follow? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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